The Election Commission (EC) yesterday announced the army would be deployed from April 26 to April 29 in Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations to provide security during the polls.
The opposition BNP welcomed the EC move, but said if the army was not given magistracy powers their presence would be ineffectual.
“Following a meeting with law enforcement and intelligence agencies on April 19, we have determined that the overall law and order situation was good.
“Nevertheless, we have decided to deploy the army so that people can cast their votes without fear,” Election Commissioner Mohammad Shahnewaz told journalists at a press briefing at the Election Commission Secretariat.
Following the EC’s decision to deploy the army, a three-member BNP delegation led by party standing committee member Moudud Ahmed, held an hour-long meeting with the commission.
“We welcome the Election Commission’s decision to deploy the army during the elections. But if they are not given magistracy powers, then the objective of army deployment will not be achieved,” Moudud told journalists.
“The army will be used as both a reserve force and a strike force. The number of army personnel to be deployed during the polls will be decided later,” Shahnewaz said.
“Returning officers of the three city corporations will decide when and where to deploy the forces during the four days,” he added.
Hinting that magistracy powers would not be given to the army, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told journalists: “There will be sufficient magistrates before and after the election to curb violence.”
There had been uncertainty over a possible army deployment during the polls because the five election commissioners were split on the issue, sources said.
Three commissioners, including CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, favoured deployment while the remaining two commissioners objected to it, sources said.
Emerging from an EC coordination meeting on security arrangements, the CEC on Sunday said the commission would decide the question of army deployment within a few days.
Law enforcement and intelligence agencies told the commission that army deployment was unnecessary at the meeting on April 19.
The BNP, Shujan and a number of mayoral and councillor aspirants, especially BNP-backed contenders, demanded the army be deployed ahead of the elections.
BNP leader Moudud said his delegation had told commissioners that the attack on Khaleda Zia had hampered election campaigning.
Regarding the attack on Khaleda’s motorcade, the CEC said: “We have made inquiries about it and have urged the police to investigate it thoroughly.”
Moudud urged the EC to take steps so that police do not harass opposition leaders and activists at least seven days ahead of the polls.
He alleged that many polling personnel, including presiding officers and polling officers, had been appointed taking their political leanings into consideration. He said biased officials should be reshuffled before the polls.
Moudud urged the commission to identify vulnerable polling centres after consulting with all of the aspirants.
The CEC urged everybody to abide by the electoral code of conduct to help the commission conduct fair elections.